B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake (above) wrote at the end of September to the would-be developer, Pacific Booker Minerals Inc., to advise that the cabinet had decided to refuse environmental approval for a proposed mining project northwest of Smithers.

VICTORIA — When the B.C. Liberals rejected a proposed $2.1-billion mining project for a site northwest of Smithers recently, news reports noted it was only the second time this government had outright rejected a mine.

But arguably the most significant aspect of the decision was the way the Liberals overturned the substantial findings of their own environmental assessment process, as detailed in a 200-page technical report delivered at the end of August.

Consultation with First Nations, government and the public? “Adequately carried out by the proponent.”

Issues identified during the assessment process? “Adequately and reasonably addressed by the proponent.”

Potential adverse effects on First Nations? “Avoided or minimized to an acceptable level.”

The provincial Crown’s obligation to consult First Nations and accommodate their interests? “Fulfilled.”

Conclusion?

“Practical means have been identified to prevent or reduce any potential negative environmental, social, economic, heritage or health impacts of the project such that no direct or indirect significant adverse effect is predicted or expected.”

But as the report went on to emphasize, those expectations were explicitly predicated on the “successful implementation of mitigation measures and conditions.”

Some 32 conditions were appended to the report, ranging from requirements to manage waste rock to the extraordinary measures needed to isolate the adjacent-to-the-site lake and feeder streams from the tailings storage facility.

Onerous, to say the least. However, to repeat the findings of the technical review, if all those conditions were successfully met, then there was no expectation of any substantial adverse effects, direct or indirect, from the mine going ahead.

Nevertheless, at the end of September, Environment Minister Terry Lake wrote to the would-be developer, Pacific Booker Minerals Inc., to advise that the cabinet had decided to refuse environmental approval for the proposed mine.

The ministerial letter acknowledged how the company had gone to considerable lengths to address concerns about the project, going back to 2003 when it first filed its application. Lake also conceded that the mine would have generated significant jobs, tax revenue and other economic benefits.

Those being — the numbers are from the government report — 2,200 person years of employment and $22 million in taxes during the $245-million two-year construction phase. Then a further 600 permanent jobs, $250 million in revenue and $1.9 billion in operational spending over the projected 21-year life of the mine.

Still the Liberals turned thumbs down. Lake’s rationale, drawing on the advice of senior public servants, cited concerns about water quality, the interests of First Nations, and the survival of a unique population of sockeye salmon.

Supposedly, all of those matters had been canvassed at length in his own government’s environmental review and addressed via the resulting 32 conditions that were imposed as a quid pro quo for the project going ahead.

Not good enough, wrote Lake, raising the need for more research covering “the physical limnology, behaviour and ecosystem” of the lake and its capacity to dilute the mine effluent.

Moreover: “We considered....the financial risk and liability to the province of B.C., particularly if Pacific Booker Minerals’ operations and closure plans are unsuccessful or (the company) is unable to resource long-term closure plans.”

The mines ministry had also fretted about “the in-perpetuity environmental liabilities of the project (and) the unprecedented scale of the (financial) bond that would be required.”

So the Liberals entertained doubts about the company’s ability to follow through on its commitments, in terms of meeting all the conditions imposed at the outset, then in restoring the site after the mine ceased operations. If the company faltered or went under, they worried that the province would be stuck holding the bill.

“There just wasn’t enough information and a confidence level that would allow us to go forward on it,” Lake told me during an interview on Voice of B.C. on Shaw TV after the decision was made public. “I think we owe it to a company like that to give them a clear no, rather than give them a whole list of conditions that are very, very difficult to meet.”

That was three weeks ago. The company is awaiting the outcome of a pending federal environmental review before announcing its next move.

But as a preliminary comment, CEO Erik Tornquist estimates the company spent $10 million successfully navigating the hoops in the provincial environmental assessment process, only to see the cabinet subject it to a kind of double jeopardy at the end.

He also notes the irony of Premier Christy Clark’s pledge, this time last year, to have “eight new mines in operation by 2015.” He reckons that his killed-by-her-cabinet mine was one of the few that had any chance of being up and running by that fanciful deadline.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.